HARRISBURG – Senate Bill 10 was approved by the state Senate Education Committee. Known as the PA Award for Student Success or PASS scholarship program, the bill would establish scholarship accounts for eligible students, allowing them to pursue an education outside their assigned public school if that school ranks in the bottom 15% statewide based on academic performance. The program would be administered by the PA Treasury and funded through appropriations, grants, donations or other contributions from public and private sources. Scholarships would range in value based on a student’s grade level and needs. Eligible students must live within the attendance boundary of one of the lowest performing 15% of public schools and come from households earning less than 250% of the federal poverty level. Funds in a student’s PASS account could be used for tuition, school-related fees or special education services at a nonpublic school. The bipartisan bill now goes to the full Senate.
